Mighty 5-Day Art Retreat - Time to Paint

Perfect Retreat in Provence - Perfect Time Away

Local Culture - Experience More

There are paintings Everywhere in France

Wine Time with New Art Friends

Plein Air Fontainebleau Art Retreat Near Paris

May 6 – 11, 2024 & May 13 – 18, 2025 Fontainebleau

We are excited to welcome our artists to an enriching and compact version of our legendary art retreats. This is the perfect château-based art experience where you can devote time to your painting in a distraction-free environment. Find your inspiration from the daily painting locations while getting to know your fellow artists in highly creative surroundings.

The Fontainebleau region sits to the southeast of Paris. The surrounding landscape, once the hunting grounds of the French nobility, provides a delicious and abundant backdrop to your art-making experience. Your painting experience home is an elegant château estate for this unique art retreat. This château is beyond charming and located in the Barbizon region of France, where French Naturalism (Barbizon School) gave way to Impressionism. On arrivals day you can roam the estate to paint, have a glass of rosé or relax with the other artists. Then paint some more! You can see images of the estate here.

Dinners, transportation and accommodations are included. You will visit the grounds of the Château de Fontainebleau. We will explore private vineyards, with special permission to paint there.

Each day has a unique destination to sketch and paint – while also taking time to stop, explore and meet the locals. Your itinerary includes a visit to a local market, vineyards and breathtaking hilltop villages. All locations have access to our vehicles, materials and cafes. Bring your camera, because you will be truly inspired by the surroundings and want to snap references to paint later.

While dining at the château we take up various painting-related topics for discussion and demos. Although the workshop is not instructed – painting side-by-side with fellow artists provides growth, new skills and new friendships. Wonderful guests from across the world have joined this retreat, including painters, photographers, writers, and sculptors.

Price is based on double occupancy. Single rooms are available. Economy rooms are also available. Airfare is not included. Discounts are available for spouses or partners (painting or non-painting).

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in time for painting on May 6!

Day 2. We paint on the grounds and in the village and in the afternoon, we go for a wine tasting and vineyard tour.

Day 3. We visit the beautifully preserved regal gardens of Château de Fontainebleau. Then after our picnic lunch «déjeuner sur l’herbe » we will explore and paint the gardens or wander around the château for a tour of this amazing and iconic château.

Day 4. Market Day! Visit a local market for retail therapy, sketching and exploring. After lunch, we go on location to paint the landscape.

Day 5. Hang out in the heart of the Barbizon and the Forêt de Fontainebleau. Discover scenes that inspired a generation of Naturalist painters who influenced the world of art.

Day 6-we say our fond farewells and return you to the train station and you return home armed with memories and inspiration to last a lifetime!

What’s Included

Dinners, ground transportation and accommodation are included. Price is based on double occupancy. There are a limited number of single rooms. Economy rooms are also available – just ask. Airfare is not included. Discounts are available for former guests and also for those traveling together, spouses/partners (painting or non-painting).

All prices are in US dollars.